GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: You know Democrats are going to be wanting to get much more detail from you on how you’re going to pay for your tax cuts. We’ve heard that at the Democratic Convention. President Clinton said your math doesn’t work. I know you dispute what President Clinton said and what the Democrats that say that you’re going to have a $2,000 tax hike on middleclass families. I know you dispute that. You cite your own studies. But one of the studies you cite by Martin Feldstein at Harvard shows that to make your math work, it could work, if you eliminate the home mortgage, charity, and state and local tax deductions for everyone earning over $100,000. Is that what you propose?

MITT ROMNEY: No, that’s not what I propose. And, of course, part of my plan is to stimulate economic growth. The biggest source of getting the country to a balanced budget is not by raising taxes or by cutting spending. It’s by encouraging the growth of the economy. So my tax plan is to encourage investment in growth in America, more jobs, that means more people paying taxes. So that’s a big component of what allows us to get to a balanced budget.

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: But his study, which you’ve cited, says it can only work if you take away those deductions for everyone earning more than $100,000.

MITT ROMNEY: Well, it doesn’t necessarily show the same growth that we’re anticipating. And I haven’t seen his precise study. But I can tell you that we can lower our rates–

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, you cited the study, though.

MITT ROMNEY: Well, I said that there are five different studies that point out that we can get to a balanced budget without raising taxes on middle income people. Let me tell you, George, the fundamentals of my tax policy are these. Number one, reduce tax burdens on middle-income people. So no one can say my plan is going to raise taxes on middle-income people, because principle number one is keep the burden down on middle-income taxpayers.

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Is $100,000 middle income?

MITT ROMNEY: No, middle income is $200,000 to $250,000 and less. So number one, don’t reduce– or excuse me, don’t raise taxes on middle-income people, lower them. Number two, don’t reduce the share of taxes paid by the wealthiest. The top 5% will still pay the same share of taxes they pay today. That’s principle one, principle two. Principle three is create incentives for growth, make it easier for businesses to start and to add jobs. And finally, simplify the code, make it easier for people to pay their taxes than the way they have to now.

2. His perception of what must be the hard life is $200K per year, which is obviously skewed.

If you think about it, 200k/yr for him would be a rough life. That is not what he's accustomed to.

__________________
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father ... And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

"If the people let government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny." - Thomas Jefferson

yeah sure its just BRC's opinion that has ruined Rassmessan's reputation for accuracy.

I'm the reason only R's think its accuarte.And all the rest of the polls are biased towards the dems.

No, not at all. But some are.

If you have a poll that is weighted +10 in Ohio, for instance, like the recent NBC/WSJ poll was, you have to presume that Obama is going to have turnout that eclipses the 2008 results by almost 25%, and reverses the statewide election participation of Republicans by a net 11 points.

I don't know of many people who believe Obama is going to exceed his performance of 2008, but it's nice to dream I suppose...

That's what they self identify as. Don't blame me blame the silly term that nearly everyone thinks applies to them.

I think you are the only one who cares what people "identify" with. Someone who makes $300k and says they are middle class is like saying "We aren't rich, we're well off". These people compare themselves to billionaires, it's ridiculous.

The true middle class would start somewhere as low as whatever the **** the takes not to require government assistance to raise your family, to about $150k(not strapped, but not set either).

If you have a poll that is weighted +10 in Ohio, for instance, like the recent NBC/WSJ poll was, you have to presume that Obama is going to have turnout that eclipses the 2008 results by almost 25%, and reverses the statewide election participation of Republicans by a net 11 points.

I don't know of many people who believe Obama is going to exceed his performance of 2008, but it's nice to dream I suppose...

Thank you for posting this.

It is so obvious to anybody who just does a little bit of investigation that the MSM is clearly doctoring data to try and put Barry in a positive light. What's pathetic is the moonbats continue to run with it.

It is so obvious to anybody who just does a little bit of investigation that the MSM is clearly doctoring data to try and put Barry in a positive light. What's pathetic is the moonbats continue to run with it.

So, do you believe that the mean average income in America is $250,000 dollars?

Arguing over words is lame. You are also twisting what was said. He said 200k - 250k down making one or the other the very top of the middle class. I would roll with 80k – 200k but that's just me as the parameters of what defines the middle class are a very loose definition.

Arguing over words is lame. You are also twisting what was said. He said 200k - 250k down making one or the other the very top of the middle class. I would roll with 80k – 200k but that's just me as the parameters of what defines the middle class are a very loose definition.

If you had read the thread, I'm twisting nothing.

I believe that "Middle Class" means owning a home, supporting four people, owning two cars and taking a nice vacation every few years, with little to no savings, regardless of location and I've stated as such.

What I was attempting to do, before you intervened, was to pin down Shtstprayer/MadCrapper/Tom.Jay and give us an answer from his heart. A REAL answer.

So, do you believe that the mean average income in America is $250,000 dollars?

If we're including every single annual income--- from Bill Gates to Tom Brady to Lady Gaga to P Diddy--- right down to the person working the cash register as McDonalds, then yeah, it would probably average out to that.

as the parameters of what defines the middle class are a very loose definition.

We still haven't even gotten a decent explanation of what "middle class" means.

it's really just a term that the Left invented to agitate class warfare. I'm not sure if Romney said "middle income" intentionally or not, or if he wanted to imply middle "class", but you see how fast leftists were quick to jump on it and assume that.

I believe that "Middle Class" means owning a home, supporting four people, owning two cars and taking a nice vacation every few years, with little to no savings, regardless of location and I've stated as such.

What I was attempting to do, before you intervened, was to pin down Shtstprayer/MadCrapper/Tom.Jay and give us an answer from his heart. A REAL answer.

Words mean different things to different people. The bottom line was Romney, who I don't like at all was was giving his definition of what middle class was on for an average American from a top down perspective.